Comments on: Pocketwizard TT1 Review

By: Pim Hendriksen

Pim Hendriksen — Mon, 17 May 2010 09:30:08 +0000

I couldn’t get them working at high speeds. I browsed for days to look for a solution, but I couldn’t get faster than 1/200. I bought the set all at once, so I never bothered to check if the firmware was the same for every unit. But it wasn’t! After a firmware upgrade it work instantly. So folks, check your firmware!

I use a 430EX II that can be used on E-TTL or manual in any speed. The 540EZ I use can be used at 1/1 and 1/2 power on manual at 1/8000 of a second. I almost gave up on the pocket wizards, but now I am happy with it. Btw, my camera is a Canon 5d mk2.

By: Jason VH

Jason VH — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:32:17 +0000

I guess misery loves company, because I feel a lot better after reading your post Dan. I have had issues with inconsistency and range with my PW IIs, and thought it was just me.

The TT5 looked so promising, and I am glad I held off until reading the first waves of product feedback. I hope they get their act together, the form factor and not needing the additional cable is a big selling point. I’m actually surprised PW doesn’t have a marketing plan in place to handle damage control over this- if I was their web marketing guy, I’d be working to at least spin this.

Right now I’m just bummed I didn’t pick up several PW IIs when everyone was selling them off in anticipation of the TT1 & TT5 release.

By: Leanna

Leanna — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:11:58 +0000

I should have read this first. I got my new PW TT1 this morning and it hasn’t worked once. I use a Canon 50D, configured several different options and still get misfires. I have a 580EX and after much frustration, it finally fired but only twice. I don’t understand those videos where they say that you just put it on top of your camera and start shooting. On what planet? I’m returning it tomorrow morning. I am quite disappointed with the built of the item and all the fudging involved. I don’t have time for that stuff.

By: Dan Carr

Dan Carr — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:12:39 +0000

Hi Ernie,

Yes the problem with Canon RF noise has been well documented. I do not use Canon strobes so this is not the problem in my case. I use a mix of Nikon and ELinchrom strobes.

The PW folks solution that you refer to is a shield to put around the canon strobes. It has been shown on some websites. So their solution for those folks using canon strobes is to pay them MORE money to fix the broken product that they are using. This, in my opinion is all work that should have been carried out in the development phase. This should never have been released. I mean who releases a flash product without discovering that the brand they have designed it for causes major issues!!!

By: Ernie

Ernie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:00:45 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJbEsC27Quk

TriCoast Photo did a YouTube video (link above) showing test results and documenting the inconsistent firing and range results. It turns out the problem is caused by an inordinate amount of RF interference coming from the Canon strobes. PW folks acknowledge the problem and claim to be working on a fix but I have no firm details on that yet. Moving the PW further from the strobe is reported to help quite a bit – 1/r2 works for RF just as it does with visible light.

By: BPR

BPR — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:03:41 +0000

Yeah, and as inconvenient as it is to make sure the sensors on the off-camera flashes are angled so that they can see the master when you use Canon’s native wireless system, that’s still far better than not getting a shot at all half the time. At least you know that if the sensors see the master (and they’re close enough) they WILL work. Every. Time.

Having said that I did just purchase a 430EX II and it performs very consistently on the Flex. I even tested my 580 and old 430 on a second Flex, side by side with the 430EX II on its own Flex, from about 25 to 30 feet, and the 430EX II fired every time, while the other two…nope. Sometimes they’d go for several shots and then inexplicably not shoot for several more. So it is obviously the RF noise wreaking havoc.

So, who wants to go spend $80 for the Canon cable to separate the Flex from a 580 or other high noise flash? Or $160 or even $240 if you need more than one coz you’ve got two or three off-camera flashes? Or to settle for the 430EX IIs as your off-camera flashes and give up the power of the 580s (which I admittedly did, but to save money rather than accommodate the new PWs). Or who wants to go buy the new RF shield or even do the DIY VeilShield?

So, long story short, I’m selling my PWs and will deal with the line-of-sight issues that come with the native wireless system, at least until I save up enough to buy the Radio Poppers. From everything I’ve read, they just work. What a concept.

By: Dan Carr

Dan Carr — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:02:57 +0000

Exactly Tim, inconsistency is the word. And that should not be a word that is associated with such an expensive product IMO.

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:41:57 +0000

So much inconsistency in the reviews of the mini and flex combo across all of the forums and blogs. Although my usable range is around 30 ft with my 580 EXII; the system is working for now. I was suprised to see that I was able to get 1/8000 sync speed with my 5D and Elinchrom Ranger set-up today, with no banding. I did not change any settings on the flex or mini; basically straight out of the box with the latest firmware update.

By: BPR

BPR — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:57:42 +0000

I have to say, you nailed it on the head with the maddening inconsistencies of the Flex and Mini. I’ve had problems getting a Mini to trigger a Flex from fifteen feet away, even in a direct line of site. Especially when holding the camera in the portrait position…wtf? I hate spending/wasting my time troubleshooting why it’s not firing. Sometimes replacing the batteries seems to work, either in the flash or the Flex itself, but it certainly doesn’t seem like a lot of battery power has to be used before it starts faltering. I’ve been deeply considering switching to the Radio Poppers, assuming I can even sell the Mini and Flex’s on ebay. Still, I’m also considering the veil shield to see if that helps any. Ridiculous, though, that it’s taking so much effort and trouble shooting to deal with this…

By: Al King

Al King — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:23:16 +0000

Just purchased the tt5 last weekend. Havent been able to get them synched with my Profoto 600r’s yet. Guess they will be going back tomorrow.

I only wish I had seen this post 1st. I feel prey to all the hype on you tube.